Dogs

Hi guys as my user name indicates I own and operate an Ice Cream store.
Soft serve and 24 flavours of hard. Just finished my 8th season.
I'm going to do Dogs and Sausages next season.
For many reasons I can only use a roller or a steamer.
Of course my question is what do you recommend, make, model, roller or steam.
Or forget it.
Small town no carts for 30 miles.
Don't want to damage my reputation, I draw regular customers for my Ice Cream from up to 50 miles away.
Many people want something to eat first.

how about a panini grill? doesnt take up much room or require much beyond electric. makes some real nice marks on dogs and sausages, and cooks them up fast.

personally I dont like roller dogs at all.

just a thought.

I agree although I have nothing to base it on. I will be opening soon and plan on having my dogs steamed in a Star steamer. Figure I can grill them from there. Have the luxury of a fryer so why not have a "ripper" and might even bacon wrap.

Possibilities of toppings go way up after that.

Ice Cream Man


Hi guys as my user name indicates I own and operate an Ice Cream store.
Soft serve and 24 flavours of hard. Just finished my 8th season.
I'm going to do Dogs and Sausages next season.
For many reasons I can only use a roller or a steamer.
Of course my question is what do you recommend, make, model, roller or steam.
Or forget it.
Small town no carts for 30 miles.
Don't want to damage my reputation, I draw regular customers for my Ice Cream from up to 50 miles away.
Many people want something to eat first.

 I would go with the steamer 100%. You can't put out as much product on a roller. Get a good quality all beef hot dog and steam fresh buns.  As long as you give quality and keep a clean cart your reputation shouldn't be damaged.

Thanks guys never thought of a panini grill.
A few years ago a sales man let me test a burger grill that electrocuted the meat it tasted awful. haven't seen them since.

Hi, Now all you need to figure out is what kind of Dog will make them drive 50 miles. If your customers drive a long way for your Ice Cream it must be a good quality. I would jump on the band wagon of the New York Coney. Us a Nathans all beef, have a good chili and maybe an  red onion sauce... It would be easy to keep these in a steam/warmer.... The Sausage is something you need to see what works in your area..Keep the quality in your operation with quality products...........The Hot Dogs will be fast and easy...........Bill

Thanks Bill.
Yes I was also going to do Chili dogs.
I'm in Canada so we are challenged, when I look a products on the web sometimes I wish I was down south, just sometimes.

Ice Cream Man


Thanks Bill.
Yes I was also going to do Chili dogs.
I'm in Canada so we are challenged, when I look a products on the web sometimes I wish I was down south, just sometimes.

We have used both and the steamer is 10 times better than the roller.  My roller grill has drawn dust for 3 years.  We use Nathans 4/1 all beef in a Star brand steamer that holds both the dogs and buns.  Works great.  We get our dogs and buns from Sam's Club at their cafe by the case.  Don't know if you have a Sams up their in the North Country or not.  Good Luck.
 
Mike S.

I was out kicking tires today, lots of time, we are open from April 1st until the first weekend in Oct.
Funny you should mention Star,I saw 3 steamers and I liked the star the best, 675.00 Canadian funny money.
My interest was also tweaked with the Pinini idea, I thought why not a sandwich too.

It was the 35SSA I was looking at with the pull down door.
Maybe you can help me, the only information I can find is it takes 30 minutes to get dogs ready.
What I really need to know is how long you can hold them?
At the end of the day are they bird feed?

check out dr of bbq's food pictures, his hot dog and sausage both are made on panini grill and look great.

you can make a wide variety of foods on it quickly and pretty much to order. Ive been seeing them used more and more.

I have used a apw/wyott hot dog steamer in the past, held 150 dogs and like 50 buns. I think it was called Mr hotdogger or something like that. Worked real well. had seperate doors to get at dogs or buns. Came up to temp in about 15  min and held everything real good for about 4 hours. We used to take the expired dogs and cut them up for beanie weenies. They werent spoiled, just lost their prettiness.

I would really look into the panini, maybe 2, 1 ribbed for the effect and 1 flat for sandwiches.

just my thoughts.

If you like the Panini Idea you can split a German sausage and put it on sourdough bread with swiss cheese and kraut, 1000 Island dressing for a German Sausage Reuben Panini.............BillyB

Ice cream is your bread and butter. I would stick to simple menu items that match well with ice cream.
 
 

Spring and fall there's lots of time but in the summer we have two people serving  a customer every 45 seconds on average, that's 1 and 1/2 minutes to take an order take their money and give them what they want.
I was thinking steamed dogs fit that time limit, spring and fall I could do specials on sandwiches.
If the DR is in maybe he could shed some light on the time frame for dogs done on the panini and what he does with the buns.
I would love a link to his pictures, I looked but couldn't find them.

Perhaps I'm a heretic here, but a simple steam table at under 200 bucks will seal the deal. A 1/3 pan will hold 12 dogs, and a pair of 1/6 pans will cover chili and cheese sauce, still leaving a 1/3 pan for whatever floats your boat...

Ice Cream Man


Spring and fall there's lots of time but in the summer we have two people serving  a customer every 45 seconds on average, that's 1 and 1/2 minutes to take an order take their money and give them what they want. I was thinking steamed dogs fit that time limit, spring and fall I could do specials on sandwiches. If the DR is in maybe he could shed some light on the time frame for dogs done on the panini and what he does with the buns. I would love a link to his pictures, I looked but couldn't find them.

First Cat is not a heretic, (lol) he is correct if your just wanting to put out a fast dog do exactly as he said. The pictures are in the Pro Food Section at the top of the page. I use a ribbed panini grill  and I just turn it on in the AM and turn it off at the end of the day. I cook several differant kind of sausages on it and the grill marks look good and the char taste is an aditional plus.

Here is a picture:


But it takes about 2 to 3 minutes to do big sausages like this. And when we do events we just load up the grill and pre-cook several so we can stay ahead of the crowds.

I had just found the pictures, made me want to be your buddy.

I would like to thank all of you for the help. Anymore would also be appreciated.
I will sure let you know how it goes in the spring of 10.

Ice Cream Man


It was the 35SSA I was looking at with the pull down door.
Maybe you can help me, the only information I can find is it takes 30 minutes to get dogs ready.
What I really need to know is how long you can hold them?
At the end of the day are they bird feed?

That is the model I have and really like it.  If you want to cram it full you could probably get 60 dogs and 30 buns in it but we never do.  We start with 20 and when we get down to about  q 1/2 dozen, we put in about 10 or 12 and always sell the oldest firstThe Nathans All Beef dogs seems to hold well but after 2 or 3 hours will discolor and don't make a good presentation.  Still taste good but looks aren't great.  We have learned thru pratice when to stop reloading but stlll usually end up with 5 or 6 at the end of the day.  That is why I have 2 of the happiest but fattest dogs in the neighbor hood.  They will taste OK the next day but only for us or friends and family, not customers.
 
You might watch Ebay.  I bought ours used for less than 1/2 new price.  If you get one you have to watch the water level because ours will run dry after 5 or 6 hrs and if you don't smell it, it will burn up the heting element.  Good Luck
 
Mike S. 

I really thought you were going to say you had the fattest wife around.
I have to keep mine away from the Ice Cream store.

You spoke about being real busy at times.  With a dog steamer you can serve a dog in about 10 seconds or less.  Set the condiments out and let them dress their own.

Better not let your wife read your posts,  It's hard to run a steamer or dip ice cream with both arms in a cast.  LOL.

Sorry, I thought you meant dogs like this: This is Jesse, the not really official mascot of The Contingent.

http://i957.photobucket.c...ae56/IceCreamMan/7.png
 
This is my store in 1999. When I figure this thing out I will post pictures as it developed.

I checked Craig's list and Kijiji there were only two steamers listed for all of Southern Ontario, I guess people burn them out or keep them.
I bought the one today an APW WYOTT,$180. I put some dogs and buns in and it seems to work good.
Question, we have to keep food at a minimum 140 F but what is a good serving temperature to serve the dogs at.

By the way I haven`t found the next picture for my store since it was painted, the whole building is a nice blue now.

Please post some interior pictures as well.
Jack